3 questions to ask before choosing a natural stone supplier
Whether you're installing a swimming pool in your backyard or simply adding some stepping stones to your patio – you want to make sure you source your natural stone from a reliable supplier.
Not only does the quality of natural stone vary by supplier, the service does as well. To assess whether a certain merchant will meet your needs, be sure to ask these three questions.
1. Where do you source your stone from?
If you want a good shiraz, you'll buy a bottle from the Barossa Valley. Prefer chardonnay? Choose something from Margaret River.
Similar to wine, certain regions are better known for different varieties of natural stone. Green sukabumi stone, for example – a top choice for swimming pools – is only found in Indonesia. Sukabumi stone from elsewhere in the world won't be authentic.
Further, while natural stone can be found nearly everywhere on Earth, it won't all be of the same quality. That's why it's a good idea to ask your supplier where they source their materials from. If they can't answer the question, it's likely because they buy based on price – not quality.
At BauMart, we understand the importance of offering the finest materials, which is why we've travelled throughout Asia and other parts of the world to find the strongest, most attractive natural stone. In the end, we decided to import all of our products from Indonesia, due to the constant standards there as well as the excellent variety.
2. How quickly can you import natural stone?
DIY-ers, designers and architects all know – projects can evolve dramatically.
You may think you just want to build a simple fireplace, but as DIY-ers, designers and architects all know – projects can evolve dramatically. To this end, it's important to work with a stone supplier who has access to both large and small quantities of your chosen materials.
At BauMart Natural Stone, we can import large and small quantities of natural stone in a matter of a few days when we're provided with the right information. If you can't access materials you need quickly, work needs to stop. This only slows down the building process and can also cost you significant time and money – particularly if you're a hired contractor.
3. Do you support customers throughout the building process?
When you shop at big box stores, the service stops when you walk out of the door. Large franchises aren't concerned with how your work turns out or making sure you have everything you need – they simply want to make the sale.
With smaller suppliers, on the other hand, you'll get a much more attentive level of care. At BauMart, we're happy to do home consultations, look over your building plans and answer any questions. Not only does this make our customers happy, but it also makes them more likely to come back when they are ready to take on their next big undertaking.
Have more questions for the team at BauMart Natural Stone? We'd love to answer them, so reach out today to find out more.
